English Grammar Exercises for A1 A2 – Past simple 2: regular past forms

A. What was Margaret’s life like in 1970 when she was young? Write past simple statements (✓) and negatives (✗) using the information below.

1   ✓ work in a shop   ……She worked in a shop. ……

2   ✗ like her job   ……She didn’t like her job. ……

3   ✓ live in a flat   …………………………….

4   ✗ want a house   …………………………….

5   ✓ prefer flats   …………………………….

6   ✗ watch TV much   …………………………….

7   ✓ enjoy dancing   …………………………….

8   ✓ dance the Salsa   …………………………….

9   ✓ learn Spanish   …………………………….

10   ✗ stay at home much   …………………………….

B. Complete the sentences with an appropriate verb in the past simple. Some are negatives or questions.

1   I was tired, so I didn’t walk to work.

2   _ _ _ you w _ _ _ _ the match last night on TV?

3   Yesterday she w _ _ _ _ _ all day in the factory.

4   The rain s _ _ _ _ _ _, so the tennis started.

5   Tony was very quiet. He _ _ _ _’_  t _ _ to anyone.

6   Last summer we t _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ around Europe by train.

7   A: _ _ _ Jane p _ _ _ the test?

      B: No, she failed.

8   I l _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to the concert as a podcast.

9   A: _ _ _ the children f _ _ _ _ _ all their breakfast?

      B: Yes, they were hungry.

10   The party was terrible, I _ _ _ _’_  l _ _ _ it.

C. Complete the text using the past simple of the verbs in brackets.

Travis Carter 1……lived…… (live) in a fridge for 40 days from December 1998 to February 1999 – a world record. A reporter 2………………… (ask) Travis later, ‘3………………… you ………………… (celebrate) New Year in the fridge?’ Travis 4………………… (reply), ‘No. I 5………………… (not know) that it was New Year: my watch 6………………… (not work) because it was so cold!’

Two years ago, Travis 7………………… (try) another world record – 60 hours in a freezer. This time he 8………………… (fail). ‘The freezer was just too cold. I 9………………… (not like) it,’ Travis said. ‘l 10………………… (prefer) the fridge.’

D. A hundred British teenagers answered a questionnaire about technology. Change their answers into past simple sentences. Some are negative.

1   87 teenagers ……watched a DVD last Saturday night. ……

2   13 teenagers ……didn’t watch a DVD last Saturday night. ……

3   30 teenagers …………………………………………….

4   19 teenagers …………………………………………….

5   35 teenagers …………………………………………….

6   58 teenagers …………………………………………….

7   10 teenagers …………………………………………….

Now answer the questionnaire in your notebook.

1   I didn’t watch a DVD last Saturday night. / I watched a DVD last Saturday night.

E. Circle the correct option.

1   She …………. in the tree for 737 days,

      a stayed

      b was stayed

      c is stayed

2   She …………. when she finished her protest,

      a cryed     b cried     c cry

3   …………. to journalists?

      a Did she talked

      b Talked she

      c Did she talk

4   A: Did she save the tree?   B: Yes, she …………. .

      a saved     b save     c did

5   A: Julia, was it boring?

      B: Yes, it was. I …………. TV for two years.

      a didn’t watched

      b don’t watched

      c didn’t watch